Pep rubbishes City link

“My future is: Wednesday free, Thursday training, and, of course, next year to be here. That's my future,” said Guardiola when asked about his plans on Monday.

Over the weekend, ex-England midfielder Paul Scholes claimed Guardiola will take over as City boss when his Bayern contract expires with current coach Manuel Pellegrini under severe pressure after a slump in form.

Guardiola's Bayern are staring down the barrel of a Champions League exit at the quarter-final stage as they host Porto on Tuesday needing to overturn a two-goal deficit after losing last week's first leg 3-1 in Portugal.

With a 12-point lead, Bayern can be confirmed as German league champions for the third season running on Saturday at home to Hertha Berlin.

But with their hopes of winning the treble of Bundesliga, European and German cup titles currently on a knife edge, Guardiola insists winning only a single title this season would not be enough to satisfy the Bavarian giants.

“This is a big club, so you can't say we are in a cosy situation,,” said Guardiola, who won 14 titles in four years at Barcelona and has so far won four in nearly two years at Bayern.

“If you win, you're a genius. If you lose you have lots of problems, but that's the nature of my job.

“We have to take more risks after the first-leg result, but I am happy to be here in this stage of the competition.

“I know it won't be easy, but I am 100 percent optimistic that we'll do it.

“We are just a few steps away (from winning) the German Cup and the German league, if we win on Saturday against Berlin, we'll be champions.

“That impresses me when I see how many problems we have had.

“But I know which club I am at, it isn't enough to win the Bundesliga and the cup.

“Only a treble is enough for a club like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern, but I am proud to be here with these players.” – AFP